Friends, Young and Old: Changing Your Perception of What Makes a Friend
Five months ago, I was sitting on the sofa at a friend’s house. I took a sip of my Bloody Mary and then frowned a little, looking around. There were about six of us scattered throughout the living room, sipping drinks and eating a homemade breakfast scramble and chatting. It was your run-of-the-mill friendly Sunday [...]
The Big Move
If you think Adventure is scary, try routine — Paulo Coelho December 2008. My father had passed away a month earlier. I felt numb, unable to feel joy or pain. My life felt like a big loop, just going round and round. I had a good job and the rest of my family in Trinidad [...]
Women to Watch: Canadian Travel TV Crew MISSADVENTURES
Give us the lowdown: your names, where you’re from and what you do. MISSADVENTURES is made up of four Canadian girls from Toronto: Ellie Geronikolos, Steph Chong, Hannah McLean, and Kathleen (Kat) Espiritu. We’re all 25 years old, except Hannah — she’s 24, the baby of the group. We graduated from Ryerson University: Steph and [...]
 Espiritu. We’re all 25 years old, except Hannah — she’s 24, the baby of the group. We graduated from Ryerson University: Steph and [...] "Pin It")
Keeping in Touch or Keeping Your Distance?
When you leave a travel destination, do you intend to stay in touch with those you’ve met while traveling? I speak not only to fellow Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), but anyone who has connected personally with another while traveling, abroad or otherwise. However, the intensity, pressure, and time spent abroad during PC service definitely makes [...]
, but anyone who has connected personally with another while traveling, abroad or otherwise. However, the intensity, pressure, and time spent abroad during PC service definitely makes [...] "Pin It")
Home Without Walls
“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” – Maya Angelou Making friends has never been difficult for me. I tend to gravitate towards people. I love immediate connections of new relationships; those weeks when you’re investigating a person’s personality, trying to make sense of their quirks. I [...]
Love in the Time of Coastal Living
It’s 9:00pm on a Friday night. Relaxing after a long week of teaching English in Barranquilla, Colombia, I wander out of my bedroom to see what my host family is up to. In the kitchen, my aunt bangs pots and pans in the sink. My mother and a few neighbors sit in a circle of [...]
Using Exercise to Counter the Blues
Sense of worth and self-esteem are huge contributions to worsening or preventing depressive episodes. I have noticed over the last few years that my better days were the ones in which I took the time to do my hair, make-up, and pick out an outfit that made me feel confident. Even while I have never [...]
Strong relationships are a building block to overcoming depression
In last month’s introductory post, I brought up several methods that can help someone cope with depression. One of these coping mechanisms was developing supportive relationships. Oftentimes when dealing with something like depression, eating disorders, cutting, and thoughts of suicide, it can be easy to feel alone, and separate from the world. Shutting down and [...]
Deadly Liaisons: Morocco and the HIV virus
Should you happen to be a male tourist indulging in a spot of Moroccan nightlife and not be aware of its somewhat seedier side, you could be forgiven for thinking that the cities are brimming with beautiful, single Moroccan women that just happen to find you utterly irresistible. Yet for many of these seductive women, [...]
Wedding Photo Booths: Silly or Seductive?
I wanted to take a moment to reflect this week on an issue that has been brought to my attention via my bridesmaids. It was a plea for advice (and its subsequent response) on maybe one of the best advice columns ever, Dear Prudence. It goes something like this: Q. Photo Booth Reveals an Affair: [...]
 on maybe one of the best advice columns ever, Dear Prudence. It goes something like this: Q. Photo Booth Reveals an Affair: [...] "Pin It")
